Funding cuts in sports, culture sectors

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport today said major programmes will continue in the culture, tourism and sport sectors despite cuts in funding across those sectors.

Commenting on the Budget, Mary Hanafin said it provides €400 million in funding to support the three sectors.

Of that, she said, current funding for her department's three sectors is €296 million, a reduction of 6.5 per cent overall on current spending on 2010. A further €96 million is available for capital projects across the tourism, culture and sport sectors in 2011. In addition, a further €8m of unspent capital funding from 2010 is being carried forward into 2011, the Minister said.

As part of the €150 million funding for the culture and film sectors, €65.2 million would be allocated to the Arts Council, a 5 per cent cut on its 2010 figure. However, the Minister said the funding would enable the council "to maintain its major programmes and activities". Elsewhere, the funding of €9.85 million for the National Gallery is a reduction of 3 per cent on 2010.

The Minister also claimed the "vast majority" of writers, artists, sculptors and photographers availing of the Artists’ Exemption will still be covered by this provision despite the reduction in threshold from €125,000 to €40,000.

In the sports sector, the Irish Sports Council funding of €46.9 million has been cut by 5 per cent. That funding supports the work of organisations such as GAA, FAI and IRFU and other, smaller organisations.

Ms Hanafin again said funding would be sufficient to support the council's programmes.